Feminist News

Trial Set for Mississippi Anti-Abortion Law

A date has been set for the case against an anti-abortion law that could shut down the last abortion clinic in Mississippi. In an order released on Friday, U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III scheduled jury selection in the case to begin March 3, 2014.

In April, U.S. Judge Jordan extended a temporary injunction that prevented the state from closing the clinic as it tried to come into compliance with a 2012 law requiring all doctors who perform abortions at the clinic to have admitting privileges at local hospitals. The injunction was extended until the constitutionality of the law can be determined in a current pending lawsuit against the state.

So far, no hospital within 30 miles of the clinic has granted admitting privileges to any of the doctors. One rejection letter stated that the clinic "is inconsistent with this hospital's policies and practices as concerns abortion and, in particular, elective abortions... The nature of your proposed medical practice would lead to both an internal and external disruption of the hospital's function and business within this community."